Household spending rose 1.6 per cent in March 2026, according to seasonally adjusted figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
This follows a rise of 0.3 per cent in February and a rise of 0.2 per cent in January.
Household spending remained high over the year in nominal terms, up 6.3 per cent compared to March 2025.
Tom Lay, ABS head of business statistics, said: 'Household spending rose strongly in March, driven by a 5.1 per cent rise in transport costs as fuel prices climbed in response to the conflict in the Middle East.'
Fuel prices spiked during the first week of March, with prices peaking at the end of March as motorists made smaller, more frequent trips to the petrol station. Strength in public transport spending also contributed to the rise in household spending, likely reflecting some households switching away from private vehicles in response to rising fuel costs.
